NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1936, Page 17

NATURE NOTES

A SAVAGE STILT ATTACK ON A FISHERMAN

(By R. H. D. Stidolph.)

A trout fisherman on the Ruamahanga River at Te Whiti, in the Wairarapa, had an unusual experience with a stilt, a familiar long-legged bird that yaps like a pup when excited. Last season, as he was making his way along the river, which he was fishing at intervals, a-stilt became interested in his movements and took strong exception to his presence in the neighbourhood. The bird so much resented his invasion into what it .regarded as its territorial rights that it swooped down upon him rather savagely time after time. In fact, the bird was so menacing in its attacks that the fisherman was compelled to defend himself to avoid being struck on the head or face. Twice the bird was hit with his rod,- but> this did not prevent further attacks, and after half ah hour!s battle of this c sort the fisherman gave up in disgust. • Not content, the bird followed him for nearly half a mile from the spot and there gave him a parting gesture to the effect that on no account must he intrude into its domain while .the rearing of the young was in hand. "../ ANTICS TO DECEIVE. It is rather unusual for a stilt to make such a determined and sustained attack. Obviously, the fisherman must have been very close either to the nest or young, as during the breeding season this bird often adopts a more or less menacing attitude to human inr truders, though it mostly keeps a good distance away when it' swoops down towards the' person responsible for its concern. On many occasions the writer has visited the haunts of the stilt in the Wairarapa, the Manawatu, arid oh Kapiti, but he has never been attacked with any determination .by this bird. Its swoops have 'always been halfhearted attempts at intimidation and more often than not the bird has resorted; to various subterfuges, in Which it is a past-master, to lead the intruder away. The: stilt will feign'injury, it will "attract attention by performing a ludicrous sort of dance, jumping up and down on its long legs and flapping its wings, it will squat down behind a stone, it will cry all in an attempt to lead a person sfway from the vicinity of its nest. Its eve* .lutions are most interesting, and vide an impressive example of its intelligence in protecting its nest and young. BREEDING LOCALITIES. v The stilt largely resorts to the shingl* riverbeds for breeding purposes, although at times its nest may be found hear the mouths of rivers and around lagoons or lakes.' The type of nest varies in different localities. If it is located on a, shingle riverbed very little attempt is made to construct a nest which is merely a loose collection of small pieces of wood and sometimes, if the nest is on. a sandy area, a depression or slight hollow "with little or no material serves for the purpose of accommodating the eggs. On the other hand, if the nest is, placed in a swampy or wet locality, very often quite a substantial structure/is constructed, in marked : contrast to the meagre type often found on riverbeds. Four eggs almost invariably, form a clutch. They show considerable variation in colour, but usually are of a dark stone colour,, heavily marked all over with blackish brown blotches. Occasionally the- marks are more fine, giving the eggs somewhat Of a speckled appearance. The young are quaint little creatures, and are capable of running almost as soon as they are born. They leave the nest not long after they are hatched. WIDELY T DISTRraUTED BDXD. The white-headed stilt is one of the few native birds that have benefited by the settlement of the country, and is found in most parts of the Dominion, even in closely-populated areas. It is occasionally to be seen at the mouth of the Hutt River, ,ii. Wellington Harbour, and once or twice in recent years has turned up,on the Kilbirnie Recreation Reserve. In certain areas it is present in its thousands, .and there seems to be no doubt that it is thriving in spite of. the many changes in the countryside. The extensive draining of lakes, lagoons, and swamps, as time goes on, must-affect; this bird, however, unless its : more favoured haunts are preserved from this fate. Not only does the white-headed stilt occur throughout New Zealand in suit- | able localities, but it also enjoys an extensive range in other countries. It Is found in Australia and. Tasmania and extends to the Philippines, Java, Celebes, the Moluccas, Timor, and New Guinea. Other species inhabit most parts of- the 'world. The stilt is, perhaps, as aptly named as any bird, its long legs at'once calling to mind a pair of stilts. - In this respect it is well equipped by Nature for wading in shallow water in;search of food.

THE BLACK STILT. Although tble white-headed stilt ii fairly common, 'the second New Zealand species, the black stilt, has almost disappeared. At one time it was fairly frequently seen -in both islands, but latterly it has seldom been reported. The black stilt is an exclusive; possession of New Zealand, not being found in any other country. It is of interest to recall that the first specimen of .this bird was collected in Wellington Harbour about 1840; As the name suggests, its. plumage is a more or less uniform black. In his excellent book on New Zealand birds, Dr. W. R. B. Oliver, Director of the Dominion Museum, states that the black stilt is but a mutant .of the white-headed stilt, which is indicated, he states, by the fact that the colours of the non-feath-ered parts are the same in both forms and the brownish' black areas in the black stilt correspond approximately to the white in the white-headed species. The black stilt has .habits similar to those'of the other species, and its eggs have been described as being of a stone* colour, marked all over with'dark brown blotches. This bird does not appear to have been seen, in the Wellington district for many, years. .. "